J&K guv to raise cross LoC trade issues with Center

Jammu and Kashmir governor NN Vohra will be pushing the demands of cross LoC traders with the Union home minister, during his forthcoming visit to the state, a government official said on Wednesday.

The traders had long been insisting for an institutionalised approach from the Centre, for the resumption of trade between the parts of Kashmir, ruled by India and Pakistan.

The official said that assurance from the governor came, after a delegation of the Salamabad-Chakoti Traders Union, met him at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday.

"The governor gave a patient hearing to the delegation, and informed them that he shall take up all these issues with the Union home minister, during his visit," the official said.

The traders had demanded increasing the number of cross LoC tradable goods, installation of full body truck X-ray scanners at the Trade Facilitation Centre, creation of additional storage infrastructure for goods, and warehousing and cold storage facilities at Srinagar and Jammu for smooth supply of goods for cross LoC trade.

Other demands projected by the Union include accommodation facilities for the traders at the Trade Facilitation Centre, provision of canteen, medicare and office space for the traders, provision of insurance cover of goods, telecommunication and banking facilities and periodical meetings of cross LoC traders.

Two more delegations, one of them representing Kashmir ex-militants also met the governor wanting their demands to be raised with government.

The official said that a deputation of the J&K Human Welfare Association, Centre for Peace, Development of Humanity and Rehabilitation of ex-Militants, called on Vohra.

"The governor gave a sympathetic hearing to the deputation and agreed to take up the association's problems with the chief minister," he added.